Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 8.p9

8.p9

viii. 4. ‘The holy power born first in the east’ (he says); the holy power born first in the east is yonder where yonder (sun) gives heat; verily thus here he places the sacrificer. He utters in praise two appropriate verses containing the words ‘anoint’ and ‘sit’, ‘Whom extending as it were the sages anoint’ and ‘Sit down; great art thou.’ He utters in praise three appropriate (verses ), containing the word ‘burn’, ‘Be thou well disposed to us, O Agni, at our approach,’ ‘Burn thou well, O Agni, the foes that are near,’ and ‘The foe who secretly may attack us, O Agni’; what in the sacrifice is appropriate, that is perfect; verily (it serves) for the perfection of the sacrifice. He utters in praise (verses ) referring to the slaying of Rakṣases, ‘Make thou thy brilliance, like a broad net,’ for the smiting away of the Rakṣases; Agni is the smiter away of the Rakṣases; they are five; by the symbol of the quarters from the quarters he smites them off. Moreover, the number of spans the Adhvaryu measures, those he accompanies with these (verses). He utters in praise two appropriate (verses ) addressed to Indra, ‘Around thee, O singer, the songs,’ and ‘In the two hast thou placed the word of praise’; verily with these two he accompanies the call of Hail! to Indra. Moreover, the number of splinters the Adhvaryu gathers round, those he accompanies with the first, the last which he deposits with the last. He utters in praise two appropriate (verses ) to Pūṣan and to Rudra, ‘Pure is one of them, worthy of sacrifice one,’ and ‘Worthily dost thou bear the missiles and the bow’; verily with these two he accompanies the call of Hail! to Pūṣan and to Rudra. Moreover the two golden chips which the Adhvaryu makes of gold and silver, those two with these two he accompanies. ‘The bird anointed by the craft of the Asura’ (he says ); the bird is breath; breath is Vāyu; verily thus with these (verses) he accompanies the call of Hail! to Vāyu. ‘I beheld thee perceiving with thy mind,’ this he should utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.